Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 28-year-old Brandon D. Hurst of Buffalo was sentenced yesterday morning before Erie County Court Judge James Bargnesi to 3 years in prison followed by 18 months of post-release supervision.
On November 25, 2022, at approximately 11:00 a.m., the defendant, with the intent to cause serious physical injury, assaulted the victim, 57-year-old William B. “Willie” Henley, inside the lobby of an apartment building on the 900 block of Broadway in the City of Buffalo. Hurst and Henley, who resided in separate apartments within the same building, were involved in a dispute regarding a burglary that occurred at Hurst’s apartment the previous day. The assault was not reported to police.
Approximately 12 hours later on the same day, a resident called 911 to report an attempted burglary at her apartment inside of the same building on the 900 block of Broadway. Prior to police arriving at the scene, the evidence indicates that a second fight occurred inside of Henley’s apartment.
Police arrested Henley and a co-defendant on attempted burglary, gun and criminal mischief charges for allegedly committing the attempted break-in at the apartment. No injuries were reported by Henley to police at the time of his arrest.
On the morning of November 26, 2022, Henley was arraigned before Buffalo City Court Judge Peter J. Savage, III. At the time of his arraignment, the defendant allegedly reported dizziness and was permitted to sit during the proceeding. Henley was held without bail.
Henley was transported to the Erie County Holding Center where he underwent a medical examination. No medical concerns or complaints regarding pain were reported by Henley to jail staff during the exam.
On the morning of November 27, 2022, at approximately 10:00 a.m., a jail management deputy found Henley unresponsive inside of his cell. Deputies administered First Aid and CPR in an attempt to resuscitate Henley. Henley was transported by ambulance to ECMC where he was pronounced dead.
The Erie County Medical Examiner’s Office determined that the victim died from a compression fracture to his neck caused by blunt force trauma.
Hurst pleaded guilty to one count of Assault in the Second Degree (Class “D” felony) on September 13, 2023.
DA Flynn commends the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, Buffalo Police Department and New York State Attorney General’s Office for their work in this investigation as well as the US Marshals Service who arrested the defendant on the indictment warrant.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Timothy J. Garvin of the Narcotics/Intelligence Bureau.